A Short Book Review—Miracles by Lee Strobel

 

Those of you who have been reading my blog posts know that I have been very concerned lately about intercessory prayer and its relationship to miraculous healings. Nancy and I have been absorbed lately by a book by Lee Strobel—Miracles.

This book is an entertaining, fast-paced defense of God’s miraculous action in the world. The book begins with an extensive interview of the editor of Skeptic magazine, Michael Shermer, and all through the book, Strobel continues to refer to the comprehensive remarks that Shermer makes, which were intended to blow holes in the idea that God is actually able to intervene in man’s affairs in such a way as to produce contradictions to the physical laws of the material universe.

After giving a lot of space to the arguments of Dr. Shermer, Strobel goes on to introduce a list of many committed Christians who have excellent arguments in opposition to the skepticism of Dr. Shermer. Those arguments are convincing and faith-producing. All through the book, Strobel plays the Devil’s advocate, repeatedly presenting alternative points of view to his interviewees. By the time one gets to the last chapter, a reader will see clearly that God’s miraculous actions in the world are not only true and believable, but they also are seen as characteristic of God’s plan for the ages.

One of his interviewees, Tom Doyle, and experienced missionary, convincingly makes the point that miracles are still going on in the world.

All that being said, the real clincher in this book comes in the last chapter, an interview with Dr. Douglas Groothuis. That chapter entitled “When Miracles Don’t Happen,” was, for me and Nancy, the most inspiring chapter of all. It has to do with Groothuis and his wife, a woman with a chronic disease that has culminated in advancing dementia. I am personally familiar with Dr. Groothuis; and I have learned a lot from him about the need to be a competent apologist for the faith. But…I had never heard about the struggle he and his wife have had over a chronic and advancing disease that has not been mitigated by any miraculous action on the part of God. This chapter is the ultimate in faith-building for those who would have God answer their prayers for miraculous healing.